The cities may need more money, but this is the wrong way to do it. $10.5 million more dollars in the first year from a new “fee” on the property tax bills, and it pays for no new firefighters, fire engines or fire stations for at least seven years. Plus it can go up to $25 million without another vote. Mostly it pays for more office workers we already have like human resources, communication and finance, and it pays for raises. The Basic Life Safety EMTs are to be self funded through insurance, copays, and state funds. There isn’t money in the RFA to pay for them, there is only money to pay back a loan to get the program started. Unless the RFA Board decides to have us pay more.
If the cities think they need more money, tell us, and tell us what the money is for. If it makes sense the community will support it. But this RFA proposal doesn’t, and won’t pay for more help for the firefighters..
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